Shining Knight (Sir Justin)

Shining Knight (Sir Justin) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, the first of several to use the name Shining Knight. He was created by Creig Flessel and first appeared in Adventure Comics #66 (September 1941).[1] He appeared regularly until issue #125, and off and on until issue #166.[2]

The character appeared on the Justice League Unlimited animated series and the Stargirl live-action series, voiced by Chris Cox in the former and portrayed by Mark Ashworth in the latter.

Fictional character biography

Sir Justin, the newest member of the Knights of the Round Table in King Arthur's court, is one of many knights who witnesses the death of Queen Guinevere's cousin, Sir Fallon. While searching for Fallon's killer, the ogre Blunderbore, Justin frees the wizard Merlin from a tree. In gratitude, Merlin blesses Justin with his magic, turning the impoverished knight's rusty weapons and armor into brilliant enchanted armaments and transforming his horse Victory into a winged horse.[3]

Sir Justin later battles and kills Blunderbore. Before dying, the ogre triggers an avalanche that buries Justin and Winged Victory. Kept alive for hundreds of years by the magic that empowered them, the two are freed in the Modern age by a museum curator during an archeological dig and join the Seven Soldiers of Victory.[4] Later, Justin returns to Britain and becomes a bodyguard to its prime minister. During his career as a superhero, he meets a boy who looks up to him and vows to be his sidekick for a brief time, taking the name Squire.

Shining Knight also has a relationship with the second Firebrand, who is apparently killed by the Dragon King. In the last battle with his teammates in the Seven Soldiers of Victory, they battle a powerful energy creature called Nebula Man. In the process, he is displaced in time, loses his memories, and becomes a janitor at Blue Valley High School until his memories return. With his memories finally returned, Sir Justin comes back as the Shining Knight stronger than before. He fights and defeats Dragon King, avenging Firebrand.[5]

In Identity Crisis, Shining Knight assists Captain Marvel, Vixen and Firestorm during their battle with Shadow Thief, during which the villain steals his sword and kills Firestorm with it. Shiny vows revenge on the villain, eventually managing to regain the sword with Merlin's help.[6]

Shining Knight appears in Justice League: Cry For Justice as one of several heroes recruited by Jay Garrick to help combat Prometheus.[7]

In "The New Golden Age", Shining Knight (alongside Winged Victory) reunited with his fellow Seven Soldiers of Victory members in Myrtle Beach, where they meet up with the Jill Carlyle version of Crimson Avenger. He assists his fellow Seven Soldiers of Victory in fighting Clock King, who was using Per Degaton's time machine on the displaced shipwreck that the original Crimson Avenger died on.[8]

Powers and abilities

Shining Knight is a master of the arts of combat of Arthurian times, skilled in aerial combat, weaponry including art of sword, and hand-to-hand combat. In some comics, it is revealed that Shining Knight has superhuman physical abilities, including: strength, stamina, endurance, speed, reflexes, balance and agility. Due to the suspended resuscitation by an iceberg, Sir Justin's aging has slowed down considerably, remaining forever young. He has an indomitable will; even though there are enemies that are much stronger than him, the Shining Knight refuses to give up and continues to fight.

Other versions

Shining Knight and Winged Victory make cameo appearances in JLA: Another Nail.[9]

In other media

External links

• The Shining Knight at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011.
• Earth-2 Shining Knight Index